> > Her hair was up in a...

> > Her hair was up in a pony tail,
> > her favorite dress tied with a bow.
> > Today was Daddy's Day at school,
> > and she couldn't wait to go.
> >
> > But her Mommy tried to tell her,
> > that she probably should stay home.
> > Why the kids might not understand,
> > if she went to school alone.
» >
> > But she was not afraid;
> > she knew just what to say.
> > What to tell her classmates
> > of why he wasn't there today.
> >
> > But still her mother worried,
> > for her to face this day alone.
> > And that was why once again,
> > she tried to keep her daughter home.
> >
> > But the little girl went to school
> > eager to tell them all
> > About a dad she never sees
> > a dad who never calls.
> >
> > There were daddies along the wall in back,
> > for everyone to meet.
> > Children squirming impatiently,
> > anxious in their seats
> >
> > One by one the teacher
> > called a student from the class
> > To introduce their daddy,
> > as seconds slowly passed.
> >
> > At last the teacher called her name.
> > Every child turned to stare,
> > each of them was searching
> > for a man who wasn't there.
> >
> > "Where's her daddy at?"
> > she heard a boy call out.
> > "She probably doesn't have one,"
> > another student dared to shout.
> >
> > And from somewhere near the back,
> > she heard a daddy say,
> > "Looks like another deadbeat dad,
> > too busy to waste his day."
> >
> > The words did not offend her,
> > as she smiled up at her Mom
> > and looked back at her teacher,
> > who told her to go on.
> >
> > And with hands behind her back,
> > slowly she began to speak.
> > And out from the mouth of a child,
> > came words incredibly unique.
> >
> > "My Daddy couldn't be here,
> > because he lives so far away.
> > But I know he wishes he could be,
> > since this is such ! a special day.
> >
> > And though you cannot meet him,
> > I wanted you to know
> > All about my daddy
> > and how much he loves me so.
> >
> > He loved to tell me stories;
> > he taught me to ride my bike.
> > He surprised me with pink roses,
> > and taught me to fly a kite.
> >
> > We used to share fudge sundaes,
> > and ice cream in a cone.
> > And though you cannot see him,
> > I'm not standing here alone.
> >
> > "Cause my daddy's always with me,
> > even though we are apart.
> > I know because he told me,
> > he'll forever be in my heart"
> >
> > With that, her little hand reached up,
> > and lay across her chest,
> > Feeling her own heartbeat
> > beneath her favorite dress.
> >
> > And from somewhere in the crowd of dads
> > her mother stood in tears,
> > Proudly watching her daughter
> > who was wise beyond her years.
> >
> > For she stood up for the love
> > of a man not in her life,
> > Doing what was best for her,
> > doing what was right.
> >
> > And when she dropped her hand back down,
> > staring straight into the crowd,
> > She finished with a voice so soft,
> > but its message clear and loud.
> >
> > "I love my daddy very much;
> > he's my shining star.
> > And if he could, he'd be here,
> > but heaven's just too far.
> >
> > You see he was a fireman,
> > and died just this past year
> > When airplanes hit the towers,
> > and taught Americans to fear.
> >
> > But sometimes when I close my eyes,
> > it's like he never went away."
> > And then she closed her eyes,
> > and saw him there that day.
> >
> > And to her mother's amazement,
> > she witnessed with surprise
> > A room full of daddies and children,
> > all starting to close their eyes.
> >
> > Who knows what they saw before them;
> > who knows what they felt inside
> > Perhaps for merely a second,
> > they saw him at her side.
> >
> > "I know you're with me Daddy,"
> > to the silence she called out.
> > And what happened next made believers
> > of those once filled with doubt.
> >
> > Not one in that room could explain it,
> > for each of their eyes had been closed,
> > But there on the desk beside her,
> > was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose..
> >
>